DPP chambers completes 156 cases in 2021

Despite threats posed by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has disposed of 156 cases in 2021. This was outlined in the year-end press statement of the Office of the DPP.
Some 128 of these cases received attention in the three High Courts across the counties, while 28 of them were nolle prosequi by the DPP. Of these 128 cases, 66 were presented at the Demerara Assizes, 27 at the Berbice Assizes, and 35 at the Essequibo Assizes. The DPP’s Office has said 151 persons appeared in these cases. Assizes are courts that sit at intervals in each county to administer the criminal law.
There were 69 cases for murder, six cases for manslaughter, 45 cases for sexual offences, and eight cases for the offence of attempt to commit murder.
There were 37 convictions, 49 guilty pleas, 22 formal verdicts of not guilty, 30 not guilty verdicts by jury, two mistrials, seven hung juries, and 28 cases were nolle prosequi.
Moreover, the Office of the DPP has said that, during 2021, it received 219 committal depositions; 122 were from Demerara, 43 from Berbice, and 54 from Essequibo. Of these 219 depositions, 130 have been indicted, eight charges were discontinued, 74 are receiving attention, and seven were remitted to the Magistrates’ Courts.
During 2020, some 101 cases were disposed of by the DPP’s Office. Of those 101 cases, 83 received attention in the courts, while the remaining 18 matters were nolle prosequi by the DPP. Of these 83 cases, 62 were presented at the Demerara Assizes, 15 at the Berbice Assizes, and six at the Essequibo Assizes.
There were 63 cases for murder, three for attempt to commit murder, 15 cases for sexual offences, and two cases for the offence of manslaughter. There were 12 convictions, 53 guilty pleas, nine formal verdicts of not guilty, five not guilty verdicts by jury, five hung juries, three aborted trials, and one trial was quashed. (G1)